If you’ve seen photos from the red carpet or candid shots from the paps, you know how popular the oversized cocktail ring trend is. And you also know they’re not just for the cocktail hour anymore. You can – and should – wear them out on a casual date, at brunch or dinner with friends, while you’re shopping, or at work.

Whether you call them statement rings, oversized cocktail rings, or knuckle dusters, the trend started about two years ago during the spring 2007 runway shows. Fashion houses like Dior, YSL, Sonia Rykiel, and Lanvin, just to name a few, accessorized their models with ginormous rings on the catwalks. After that, Vogue declared to the fashion world that “statement rings are a major fashion statement,” and the current trend was born.

And as we approach the 7th on Sixth spring 2009 collections in just a few short weeks, it seems like the statement ring trend shows no signs of stopping. Everyone from the stars of Gossip Girl to The Hills girls sport this look any time of day or night. And for any occasion. The difference now is that the trend has evolved into more daring shapes and styles than ever before.

Ring me when it’s time for cocktails, won’t you?

Cocktail rings became the fashion statement during prohibition-era cocktail parties. Hence the name. They were considered status symbols to the fashionable women flaunting them, who also wanted to thumb their noses at the law and make a bold, visual statement that they were going to break the law, and look absolutely fabulous doing it.

In the 1920’s, not only was there a prohibition against alcohol, but the end of the decade also marked the beginning of the Great Depression. And the way our financial outlook is shaping up today, I can’t think of a better way to thumb our noses at the state of the economy than with some fabulous, oversized baubles on our fingers.

So no matter how much dough you can afford to drop, here are some fun, chic, glam and glitzy statement ring options for you.

1. skull and crossbones ring ₤6.00 (ships to U.S.), 2. butterfly ring $3.80, 3. lacquered stone flower ring $4.80, 4. studded medieval ring $5.80, 5. leopard head ring ₤4.80 (ships to U.S.), 6. parachute ring $19.99, 7. clock face ring ₤10.00 (ships to U.S.), 8. carved flower ring $3.80, 9. hot shot! camera ring $10, 10. lucite ring $4.80

1. alligator ring $65, 2. pavé dome ring $49, 3. Kenneth Jay Lane emerald-cut cocktail rings $100 (each), 4. Betsey Johnson rock star cocktail ring $64, 5. Disney Couture jewelry tink treasure chest ring $40, 6. art nouveau ring $65, 7. Marc by Marc Jacobs metal tenacious T ring $98, 8. Twist Style by Maryellen Kim hand-painted bloom & crystal ring $28, 9. beaded ombre ring $68, 10. Betsey Johnson disco ball ring $79, 11. akuamarina aventurine quartz & Murano glass ring $49.50

1. Luc Kieffer zipper ring $187, 2. Kenneth Jay Lane pavé octopus ring $150, 3. Pade by Pade Vavra fresh water pearl nest ring $110, 4. Maison Martin Margiela gift bow ring $245, 5. Julia deVille talon ring (price not given, but check out her site she has a twisted imagination and isn't afraid of a little taxidermy in her jewelry), 6. macaw cocktail ring $265, 7. Maison Martin Margiela can tab ring $135, 8. dipped geode ring $168, 9. owl cocktail ring $234, 10. fox cocktail ring $300, 11. Chanel metal and strass ring - fall-winter 2008/09 pre collection - price not given (i.e., maybe some things are better left unsaid?), 12. Luc Kieffer chain ring $187

How to let your fingers do the talking

Dressy date with your fave hottie

Leighton Meester’s little black dress, sleek and simple hairstyle and eye-catching rock are perfect for any date where you want to dress to impress. She kept the accessories to a minimum so the rest of her ensemble could shine. I’m not crazy about her shoes from the front, but aside from than that she looks adorable – chic, sporty and glammed up at the same time. Awesome choice for a dressy date night.

Casual date or just out shopping

If you’re going on a casual date, say out to the movies or bowling like Audrina Patridge is here in this photo, who says you can’t add a little unexpected novelty to a tank top, a pair of jeans, and flip flops – or in Audrina’s case, bowling shoes – with an oversized ring? This would also work even if your only plans involve an afternoon of retail therapy. The only thing I would do differently is skip the bangle bracelets. They’re unnecessary to complete her outfit, and kinda look out of place when compared to the ring.

Dinner or brunch with the girls

A pair of jeans, a flouncy top, heels and a statement ring is all Jessica Biel needs to look elegant. And if you’re meeting friends for brunch or dinner, this would be a great choice as well. Although her hair looks great pulled back, the rest of her outfit is chic and simple enough that a little volume in the tresses won’t overpower the statement she’s making with the simplicity in her ensemble.

Drinks with friends or at a party

Blake Lively looks fantastic in this solid color jewel-tone dress and a single splash of bling on her hand. Nothing is overpowering her ensemble – not even her hair, which is pulled back in a chic, loose ponytail instead of a big, fussy event ‘do. Not much else to say here, except that this would be a perfect choice for a cocktail party.

At the office

Just because you’re at work, doesn’t mean you can’t work it – even if you work in a super conservative office environment. Again, Leighton Meester is the style maven to mimic. This photo was snapped at an event to promote a campaign she was supporting, but this outfit is obviously professional enough to wear to the office. And she’s the perfect example to show that even if you work under a stuffy “no casual Fridays” dress code, it doesn’t mean that you can’t look fashionable and accessorize with single oversized ring. And if you work in a more relaxed environment, or a creative field like advertising, public relations, and of course the fashion industry, you can probably be even more over-the-top with your accessory choices.

A few general tips to keep in mind

► Make sure your hands are manicured when you wear a statement ring. People will be grabbing your hands to look at your ring, so you don’t want them to be sidetracked by chipped polish, hangnails, or overgrown cuticles instead.

► If you really want to stand out and look unique, try one of the newer animal-inspired rings. Maybe they’re just a personal fave of mine, but I always stop and stare when I see someone wearing one because they’re so different from the 5 to 10 carat rocks that seem to be more common.

► They’re called “statement rings” for a reason – they say a lot all on their own. So when you wear an oversized ring, don’t over-do it with the rest of your outfit. Pair it with solid colors and stay away from busy, multi-tonal patterns and lots of frilly bows or ruffles. Otherwise, you could end up looking like a dog’s breakfast.

► The same rule holds true for the rest of your accessories. Keep it simple or don’t wear any other jewelry. The point of accessorizing is to complement your look, not overwhelm it. And a single statement-making ring is about all you need. When you’ve got too many bright, shiny things going on, it’s easy to go from chic to gaudy in a flash.

► I hate all of the outdated rules when it comes to not wearing anything other than a wedding band or engagement ring on the “ring finger” – whoever made that up, and more importantly, whoever is still encouraging girls to follow it, is stupid and deserves a different finger altogether. That said, statement rings do look the most fun and fresh on the index and middle fingers. And if you find a one-size-fits-all ring with a built-in universal sizer (like Kenneth Jay Lane’s designs), go ahead and try wearing it on your pinky finger, for a really bold and fun look.

► Even if your ring is made from genuine silver or gold and not plated, faux stones become cloudy and can be ruined by soap and water, as well as lotion and hair products. So be sure to take your rings off while you’re washing your hands. And don’t put them on until you’ve finished your hair, makeup and beauty routine.